What a gripping story this is!! On the surface, it’s a mystery about a woman who has committed an heinous crime and has neither accepted nor rejected her guilt as she has opted for silence. So what’s so special about this enigmatic killer that draws the readers into this masterfully crafted novel?
Alicia Berenson is accused of brutally killing her husband in their home. This act has resulted in not just his death but the death of her old life too. That famous charismatic artist and wife of a famous photographer is now replaced with a silent patient locked up in a psychiatric hospital. However, bearing in mind her social status, it’s not any other hospital. She is treated at one of the most specialised and respected psychiatric facility. Still she refuses to speak.
Her silence carries unbearable pain which only she knows but refuses to share with anyone else, even the medical staff who is treating her. So, a new psychotherapist takes this as a challenge to make a case for her denial of admitting her crime. That’s how we meet the ever so sincere and professionally committed Dr. Theo Faber.
The way he attempts to unravel the mystery behind Alicia’s muted face and tries to voice out her innermost fears reminded me of an old Hindi movie that I watched in my childhood. It was called Khamoshi which literally translates to silence and which also portrays a medical professional i.e. a nurse. She tries so hard and literally pours her heart into her profession, only to be met with a profound and lifelong silence.
But it’s not a similar story neither it’s identical to the Shelter Island. Having said that, it presents a similar dilemma like the later one and creates a shocking confusion for the readers.
So when the final twist comes, the readers are literally thrown off their seats. Like nobody has seen this coming from a mile but still the reality hits like a bolt of lightning and finally, all the pieces of the puzzle are falling in their places. Lots of questions gets answered but few questions are left unanswered too. Without spoilers or giving away anything, it can be said that the story ends on a cliffhanger.
All in all, a great story written and interesting characters built up which keep the readers hooked till the last line. Definitely worth reading for, especially on a cold winters night. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.